Why Crystal Palace should do all it takes to get former Manchester City manager as new boss

Roberto Mancini has won 25 trophies -13 as a player and 12 as a manager (Image: PA Wire)

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In the search for a new Crystal Palace manager, Steve Parish and the American owners should be doing all they can to bring in former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini.

As the club is now in its fourth season in a row in the Premier League and the owners encourage fans to be ambitious about what can be achieved, it is only right that they do the same.

Sam Allardyce is the overwhelming favourite with bookies to be named the next manager but that would not be an appointment to excite the fans. Going to Selhurst Park has not been an enjoyable experience in the last 12 months for supporters and could you see that changing dramatically if Big Sam was to take over?

Mancini, currently fourth favourite, would be an appointment that would make other clubs sit up and take notice.

The Italian has been a proven winner throughout his career, lifting 25 trophies - 13 as a player and 12 as a manager - while building teams with strong defensive foundations.

This solidity is exactly what Palace currently need to get back.

Sam Allardyce.

In his three full seasons in Manchester (2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012,13), Mancini's City either had the best or joint best defensive record in the league. In 2010/11 they only let in 33 goals all season, in 2011/12 it was even fewer at 29 and in 2012/13 the team let in 34 goals.

While it is admittedly difficult to compare City's back four with Palace's, the Eagles have already let in 32 goals this season.

Palace fans undoubtedly have an affinity for former players taking over, 'Super Al' was belted out in Pardew's first months in charge and before Dougie Freedman left the club fans were genuinely excited about how far he could take the team.

And that is where Mancini would tick another box - Palace legend Attilio Lombardo worked in his coaching team at City and Galatasaray. If Mancini and Lombardo were to grace the Selhurst Park touchline it would be a perfect combination for many Palace fans.

As is always pointed out by football club owners looking for a new manager, Mancini - who has been out of work since leaving Inter Milan in August - also has that much sought-after Premier League experience.

He ended City's 35-year trophy drought, helped them qualify for the Champions League for the first time, and then won their first league title for 44 years.

The second and third of those achievements would definitely be out of reach for Palace but it shows he is a manager who can take a club to achievements that have been beyond them for years.

Alan Pardew had the chance to do so with Palace, his team was less than 10 minutes from winning the FA Cup in May but did his now famous touchline dance following Jason Puncheon's opening goal prove that he doesn't have the calm head needed to see through such a big occasion?

Mancini has managed huge European clubs in City, Inter Milan, Galatasaray and Lazio. He has also proved that he can work in tougher situations, his first managerial role was at then cash-stricken Fiorentina at the age of 35 and he won the Coppa Italia.